The Official H-Body Internet Community

Hello,
I am new to the forums, recently acquiring a 76 towne coupe 4cyl.
My strangest issue right now is I have a relay, or switch....something under the dash getting hot.
Pulled it out, it is a small cylinder, similar to the turn signal relay..but smaller.
Did not change anything after pulling out, still runs, signals, etc...questions?
Oh, and it has 3 red wires attached to it, thanks for any help.

Welcome to the forum, you will be very happy to be here as it is a great source of info and H body folks here. I am not sure off hand what that part is and I am sure Spencer (our electrical guru) or others will chime in. However, it is normal that some electrical items feel hot to the touch, it does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Does anything not work? Did it always run hot or is this something new you noticed?

I don't see anything like that in my diagrams, but it sounds like it might be a seat belt buzzer.

Thanks all for the welcome party.
I sure hope it is the seat belt warning buzzer, that thing is annoying!

Btw, I plan on stuffing a 327 block 302 in the 76 this summer.
Custom build, with most of the z28 T/A race specs on the motor.
Maybe try to stay just north of 400 hp, the car is really solid.

Sounds like a great project; those 302's sure like to rev. The original factory rating of 290hp was among some of the biggest lies ever told in Detroit. 400 is doable with minimal modifications. Technical question- are you building an early(1967) small journal and 2-bolt main or later (68-69) large journal 4-bolt version? Both have their advantages.

The 302 will be from a small journal block, smaller diameter for higher revs.
Knife edged crank, custom grind, 4/7 cam, studded mains, maybe early small port heads...overworked.

The only three prong cylindrical device under dash I can think of is maybe the 4-way flasher [emergency, or also called Hazard flasher but it is usually in the fuse panel ] That shouldn't get hot and it is usually the same size as the turn signal flasher. There has been some discussion about fuel pump wiring lately, and no one has commented to confirm or deny my comment about the diode in the seat belt buzzer as part of the fuel pump/oil light circuit, it seems like a million years since I went through the diagrams and now they are some much smaller than it used to be. So that being the case I am having a hard time to follow through that, to confirm my fading memory [or dash my self esteem]. If I am remebering correctly it wont run with the buzzer pulled [electric pump I can't remeber if the early 4 bangers were electric or not(?)]] The only other thing I can think of, is it is something that has been added[?] in the last 41+/- years. Sorry my memory isn't worth a S T anymore, so just some things to check. Harry

I have pulled out both, the hot relay, and the door buzzer...no problems yet.
Everything seems to work normally, what a conundrum...these cars are an electrical mystery lol

Well I don't know how much of a mystery they are, obviously that component controls something. It just may not be something you are not using so at this point I suppose it's no big deal However at some point something may show up so keep it in mind. I'd be curious as to what that part actually is, maybe you can post a pic or possibly a part number on it?

Was still trying to be winter around here, but got the picture needed for discussion.

Does your car have a rear window defogger. Might be a component (relay /curcuit breaker/timer) for that?

Not a defog relay. Looks vaguely familiar; you said 3 red wires, but in the pic they look pink.....There is nothing in any of the diagrams I have, but they do not include all options. Have you checked operation of EVERYTHING important in the car? If it all works with it unplugged, don't sweat it.